Chapter 11: Third Day

Jake

The next morning, Jake woke up. This time, it was Circadian. No alarm-clock had brought this awakening.

Jake looked around, and saw that everyone else was having breakfast. He noticed at the foot of his cot, there was a tray of sausage, bacon, and hash browns.

And it smelled delicious. Jake reached over, and picked up the tray. He looked around, and saw everyone else eating a similar meal in their beds.

Ripley turned her head and noticed him. "Good morning sleepy-head. You've been asleep all morning." She said.

Jake reached over for his cellular (Completely on Fury time) and saw that it was almost ten in the morning.

Looking down, he started to dig in. The food was delicious. It had been a long time since Jake had a hot breakfast. He enjoyed it to the last bite.

He then reached into his jacket, which lay on the side of the bed, and started to look for his journal. He had a hard time, because it seemed that all of the pockets had something in them. After finding a deck of cards, his wallet from Archeron, and a small quartz crystal, he finally found his journal.

Slipping the pen out of the holder, and turning to the next blank page, he began to write. Updates were done the day after, and after it was done, he shut it, and saw a familiar face holding the cards.

"Please, please can we play cards?" Newt asked, holding the deck in her hands like a toy that had yet to be bought.

"Why not." Jake answered. Immediately, Newt ran to start asking everyone to play cards with her.

Soon, Everyone except Bishop and Hicks was seated around a table, and playing Archeron Pairs.

The game itself was a cross between old maid, go fish, and rummy. How it was like go fish, you had the ability to ask someone if they had any of a certain card. The old maid aspect came in if they did, where you had to guess which card it is in their hand. How Rummy came in, you made pairs, and the pair type determined the point value. A pair that is only in number got you five points, while a pair that also matches the suit got you ten.

The mechanic was simple, and it didn't take long for Ripley, Vasquez, and Hudson to pick it up. However, with skill, the obvious lack of it fell on Hudson.

At the moment, it was Newt's turn. "Anyone have any aces?" Newt asked. Jake looked through his hand. At the moment, he had a two of hearts, a three of clubs, a 9 of spades, a Jack of diamonds, and a King of clubs.

"No, I don't" Jake said. "I don't either." Vasquez said. "Same here" Ripley announced.

"I have some." Hudson admitted. "Go ahead and find it though." He challenged as he held his hand out, allowing Newt to reach.

Newt seemed to know which one it was, and Jake finally figured out why. It seemed that Hudson always looked directly at the card.

Newt looked up for a moment, and then made her choice. Selecting the one right in the center, she drew it out of Hudson's hand, and after flipping it around, making sure it was an Ace (of Diamonds) she pulled out an ace from her hand and laid it down. It seemed that the RedSuit Aces were all gone.

It was then Ripley's turn. "Anyone have any twos?" She asked.

Jake and Hudson both said yes.

"I think I'll take one from Will" Ripley said. Hudson brought his hand forward, and started to choose.

Choosing the one on the right end, Ripley pulled it out and mouthed "Ouch". She then put it back in her hand.

Vasquez's turn. "Any of you have a queen?" She asked. Everyone shook their heads "No".

Vasquez knew the drill, and reached for the deck. After bringing her card to her hand, she winced.

After two hour's worth of hands, the totals said a lot. Ripley had the most, with over 200 points. Next was Jake, with 185 points. Newt came in third, with 175 points. Vasquez came in fourth with 145 points. And then there was Hudson, who had only a measly 55 points.

They were about to start a new hand when Aarons walked in. "I have some very bad news, and some very good news." He said. "Which one do you want first?"

Everyone looked at each other, and then Ripley said, "How about the good news."

Aaron looked at them and said. "They'll be another three hours early. The ship will be here three hours early."

Jake then said "What's the bad news then?" Aaron paused "Golic released the creature. It's only a matter of time before it reaches you. It's already started to attack the prisoners."

Everyone looked around. "I'm already starting to talk to everyone else, and a plan's been formed to trap it in the leadworks."

Everyone looked at each other. It seemed that the newest things were going down. The third day on the planet will be the hardest they'll have. If they can stay alive.

"We currently need someone to lead the creature into the mold. If any of you are willing, speak now, or forever hold your peace."

Jake looked around and said "I'll do it. I'll be bait." Ripley looked at him "No way in hell are you going to do it. The thing will kill you if it even get's it's hands on you."

"No way," Jake said "If the thing may not touch you, but it will still need someone to follow. It's not gonna do that with you mom."

"I'll do it!" Hicks spoke up "I personally don't have anything to live for anymore. Nobody loved me here or back home or had a family. Frankly I got beat by a teenager, when I held an obvious advantage. My whole life is gone, I might as well go out for the team."

Everyone was shocked. Jake never realized that the outcome of last night's match meant so much to him. He thought he'd earned his respect, when in reality, he succeeded in emasculating him.

"I don't want you to bait the thing," Ripley said standing up and walking over to him "Because someone does love you."

"Who?" asked Hicks. "I do Dwayne." Ripley answered, leaning forward, and then kissing him.

Their kiss lasted a good ten seconds before Ripley drew away, she said "Let the kid bait the thing." Vasquez said "He obviously would rather do it. He's the only one of us who is even capable of wielding a weapon. He's got the sword, and as we all have found out, he's perfectly capable of holding his own with it."

"Just let the kid be bait." Hudson said "I think he's old enough to think for himself. However, if you insist that your son not do this, then I'm afraid as his teachers, we won't let him. Isn't that right Ms. Jenette?"

"What Will said." Vasquez replied "I'd let Jake if he were my son."

"Well," Ripley said "I'll let you do this Jake. If you feel like the creature's your responsibility, then you take care of it. I'll operate the mold controls an…" Ripley was interrupted by the entrance of two prisoners; Dillon, and Morse. "If you all are gonna help us," Morse said "Then it better be now."

Jake had this strange feeling in his gut. "Bishop." Jake said. Bishop turned to face him "Yes Jake?"

"How long until the ship arrives?" Jake asked. Bishop blinked his eyes "Five hours, thirty minutes." He answered.

"How long until the thing comes out of Ripley?" Jake inquired. Bishop blinked again "Five hours, thirty minutes." He answered.

Jake was worried, yet it seemed that Hicks knew what needed to be done. "If either of you are going to help us, then speak now, or forever hold your peace." Hicks said.

"I'll work the controls" Morse announced "I'm the only one of us still alive who is certified to work them." He explained.

"I'll push it into the mold." Bishop said. "If I have to go in to do it, I certainly will. I'd rather have that then meet my own designer."

Jake was amazed. "I'll be the one to bring it out to the leadworks, I'm really fast, and I want to make sure this thing ends."

Aaron clapped his hands really loudly, multiple times. "I guess it's settled, and that we know what to do?" He said, still applauding.

Everyone just looked at him. Hicks finally spoke up "We know what to do, and we'll gladly do it. But you have no idea what this all means don't you?"

Aaron shook his head no, and stopped clapping. It seemed that the guy was not really smart. Made sense, seeing as he had told Newt the worst possible thing.

They all left to their places, leaving the infirmary behind one last time.